H.—l

22

It may not be amiss to point out here that a scholarship scheme, unless it be wisely devised and judiciously applied, may be productive of injurious, instead of beneficial, effects upon the course of studies in the schools which prepare for the University. In the first place, if the competition extend over too wide a range of subjects, there will be a tendency to foster superficiality rather than thoroughness of attainments, and a temptation will be presented to the schools to burden their curriculum with a variety of subjects which cannot possibly be mastered by the pupils. On the other hand, if the scholarships be offered for excellence in an unduly restricted number of subjects, the opposite danger will arise, that candidates will neglect all the branches of study excepting the one or two subjects in which they intend to present themselves for examination. In the latter years of his University course a student may properly devote himself to special studies; but the aim of a secondary school should be, not to encourage specialization, but to lay as broad a foundation as is consistent with thoroughness of work. Although we are persuaded that in the earlier years of the administration of the University scholarship system the Senate did not fully appreciate these considerations, and in consequence erred at different times in both of the directions which have been indicated, we do not think it necessary to dwell on this point. The regulations for the junior scholarship competition which were framed four years ago, and which have since remained substantially unaltered, seem to us to follow a middle course, free from the opposite objections which have been adduced. A candidate is now allowed to take up any number not exceeding five out of the eight subjects prescribed for the examination, the scholarship being awarded on the aggregate of the marks gained in the subjects taken up. This limitation of the range of the examination to five subjects —which as a general rule is as great a number as a boy can profitably study during his course at school —is calculated to promote sound learning, and to check the tendency which has manifested itself in some schools towards an undue multiplication of the subjects included in the curriculum. We have recommended in our interim report that the minimum age for matriculation at the University be raised from fifteen to sixteen years. In most parts of New Zealand boys now leave school at too early an age, and this evil is more likely to become permanent if the regulation regarding admission to the University be not amended. The mind of a boy of fifteen is too immature to admit of his carrying on his studies in the manner suited for a University college, and he is in other respects unfitted to begin the comparatively free life of the University. At this age a boy had better be attending school, where his studies will be more effectively controlled, and his attention to them more closely enforced. In the case of University scholars who may be expected to take up the higher line of study which leads to Honours and other University distinctions, it is of still greater consequence that they should not enter the University until their faculties have become relatively mature. We do not, however, think it necessary to recommend that the minimum a^e for holding a University scholarship should be fixed higher than that which we have set down for matriculation. We have arrived at this conclusion, not on the ground that the proper age for entering the University is sixteen years, but because we have not lost sight of the consideration that the effect of the competition for scholarships, as soon as it acquires some degree of intensity, will be to raise the average age of scholars considerably above the minimum fixed by the regulations. The warden and the headmaster of Christ's College, Christchurch, both stated in their evidence that their only reason for desiring to retain for Christ's College the status of an institution affiliated to the University was the low minimum age which had been fixed for junior scholarships ; and. no doubt considerable importance is also attached to this point by the authorities of other schools. The principal significance of the discussion as to the age for matriculation lies in the distinctive characteristics of secondary instruction on the one hand, and of the University instruction on the other. It is on this distinction that the proposals for the reconstitution of the University, as sketched in the interim report and the draft bill, are based. It seems necessary therefore to refer here to the relation which some of the secondary schools have hitherto sustained to

Dangers attendant upon scholarship scheme.

Satisfactory character of present regulations for ecliolarships.

Minimum age for junior scholarships.

Int. Rep., Evid 4098 el seqq., 4340 el seqq.

Affiliation and its effects.